Will U.S. Navy's "Freedom Of Navigation Operations" In China Sea Spark War?

The artificial islands that China built in the South China Sea are becoming more and more problematic. China insists they did this to prevent the
U.S. from monopolizing international trade in the Indian and Pacific Ocean.

China is actively building artificial islands in the South China Sea, turning them into military and logistical bases. Beijing already has at
least seven such bases, equipped with access channels, helipads, radar facilities, gun and missile emplacements, piers, military facilities and other
objects of strategic importance. China’s government had started its land reclamation and construction efforts on the reefs in early 2014. The main
reason for such actions by China, is the US intention of controlling international trade in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific or even monopoly of trade
control in those waters. - See more at: southfront.org...

I think China did this to expand their military presence and made bogus claims that this was a lawful expansion of China's sovereignty. They claimed
land (reefs) and sea, that were once considered national waters.

If the international community rolls over, Beijing may insist on—backed by warships and planes—exclusive economic rights around these new
islands, despite going against international law. That could mean that the natural resources for 200 miles around these “instant islands” would be
Chinese; no fishing or exploration or drilling for oil and gas without Beijing’s say-so. Second, the building of military bases on these man-made
islands would push Chinese influence far into the Pacific Ocean, projecting Beijing’s military might, especially if airstrips are built. These new
defense outposts could be used to control the area, including trade and air/sea traffic (e.g., U.S. warship movement) in and through the
region.

dailysignal.com...
Well, the international community, including Obama's administration, did "roll over" in my opinion and allowed China to develop a strong foothold
in the South China Sea.

During his last term, U.S. President Barack Obama did not allow the Navy to engage in FONOPS, part of his policy of caution and avoidance of
extra confrontation with Beijing.

In recent years, while the Navy suspended the operations, China began to aggressively build in the Spratly Islands, installing military-grade
runways and deploying surface-to-air weaponry, according to satellite images.

Now under Trump's administration these U.S. Navy operations are beginning again. China views this as a form of sabre rattling and warned the U.S.
not to challenge its sovereignty.

“China respects and upholds the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, which countries enjoy under international law,
but firmly opposes any country’s attempt to undermine China’s sovereignty and security in the name of the freedom of navigation and overflight,”
China’s foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said

I can see why this would cause relations to sour a little. I can also see why China thinks they can expand in this area. China is huge, over populated
and damn close to those island when looking at it from a global scale. The communities most nearing it could and probably are easily upset about the
idea and execution. China is a super power and being told no isn't something it should have to hear often when considering factors not concerning
human rights.

China is trying to gain control over the South China Sea. With these military installations that have the ability to place radar, anti-air missiles,
medium to long range strategic missiles (nukes & carrier killers) on these islands. This drastically reduces the US Navy's ability to project forces
in that region as it would force US Carriers to stand off at a greater distance.

This also puts China in a position to control all the trade routes in the area. 5 Trillion Dollars of trade flow thru the South China Sea, that a lot
of power China would be in control of. Plus China would be in a position to make even greater demands upon its neighboring countries in terms of
access to the sea.

Now in regards to Taiwan give the Mainland Chinese a huge advantage if they choose to invade Taiwan. The defense of Taiwan has always depended upon
the Taiwanese holding off the Communist Chinese until the US can arrive with reinforcements. However with these islands, it make it harder for the US
to respond as our carriers can not get close enough without first taking out those islands. As it stands right now the invasion of Taiwan would be
over before the US Navy would be able to defeat those islands and then respond to Taiwan.

I don't know but would think that the US and China would not start a war ...Reason being is what would a victory look like ...Or what would a loss
look like ...Both sides seem to be playing for a diplomatic win ,in which case China has the upper hand at present... The US's focus on the ME in the
past had them missing what was happening ...Its a geopolitical game that China has won and a game the US needs to be at the table with strength that
they don't have at the moment ...

Signs that the US position is going to change anytime soon is just not in the bigger picture
...journal-neo.org...

The China front line can't happen until the US builds another line in a place (ME) ...Just what that has to look like is a call that can't be made
because of the deteriorating situation there now . Add this vid and I am out of here

So it's alright for the US to park a few acres of sovereign US territory with a floating arsenal and air wing wherever they damn well please and use
it as a weapon of intimidation, but China can't build a couple of tiny islands off their coast?

Don't get me wrong I'm no fan of China's government either. I've studied the "thousand year plan" and I understand their intentions as well. I don't
trust either of these governments because they both want to be the Rulers of the World.

Newsflash! The world isn't here to be ruled over by any one nation so calm the # down and back the # off.

The huge difference is that they're claiming an ADIZ around the islands, and are grabbing territory that isn't theirs to grab. A carrier moves through
and doesn't take resources. This is pretty much a straight resource grab.

If you want to believe different, have fun. The Liaoning sat rusting in a Russian shipyard for years first as the Riga, then as the Varyag. The
Russian navy got her a little over half built and stopped.

As for Chinese blue water forces, they operate small detachments in many areas, but that doesn't make them a true blue water force. They're getting
there, but they still have a few years to go.

The huge difference is that they're claiming an ADIZ around the islands, and are grabbing territory that isn't theirs to grab. A carrier moves through
and doesn't take resources. This is pretty much a straight resource grab.

ADIZ the 200 mile limit youtu.be... Put your islands in strategic locations and claim a 200 mile over lapping limit around them...
Great plan if they can carry it off..

China is all over S.E. Asia with building and financing projects that make many of the governments/people think China is a good guy..

China has been sending thousands of package tourist to many of the S.E. Asian countries which makes the governments happy because of the money they
spend on VISA and accommodations.
A short video and worth a watch IMO

Legally, man made islands don't give you a new ADIZ, or EEZ, which is what China is claiming they do. That's one of the things that has multiple
nations doing freedom of navigation exercises through the area.

You might enjoy this piece because it has a surprise . Imagine a statue of a woman could hold such sway over international "norms" and put the law in
such a precarious place ..

Their current state is illustrated by the incident on January 9, when a group of six Chinese bombers accompanied by two support planes crossed
the South Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the East China Sea and Sea of ​​Japan in the Tsushima Strait area. We remember that
the country that introduces the ADIZ zone (usually extending for hundreds of kilometers from the national airspace) has no right to prevent the flight
of a foreign aircraft, but may require a notice from the crew on the intention to enter it.

Military aircrafts often ignore this requirement (as obviously in this case), which nevertheless does not violate international law. But at the same
time, as a rule, Air Defense fighters of ADIZ “hostess” country inspect the intruding “guest.” On January 9, Japan’s Air Defense aircrafts
were also lifted for an inspection mission, however what the Republic of Korea did was unprecedented. For the interception of the Chinese group, ten
F-15 and F-16 fighter jets of the South Korean Air Force were lifted.

Two weeks ago, in a similar incident over the Miyako Strait of the Ryukyu archipelago, to intercept a group of six Chinese bombers and support
aircrafts, the Japanese Air Force lifted only two F-15’s. So far, one of the major regional players, i.e. the US, has not participated in these
“muscle-flexing games” and political “shows”, again due to being absorbed in solving complex internal problems. It is difficult to say,
whether this is good or bad from the standpoint of maintaining stability in Northeast Asia.
journal-neo.org...

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